Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-12-21
Correspondence Of the Yorkyille Enquirer
LETTER FROM COLUMBIA.


LETTER FROM COLUMBIA.
COLUMBIA, December 19.-As the SEES
sion of the Legislature draws near its end,
there seems to be a disposition to talk less,
with the effect of getting more work done
The forfeited land bill passed the Senate,
and the reapportionment bill, which pass
ed the House, was defeated in the Senate
by a vote of 10 to Is.
The bill to'regulate the royalty on phos'
phate rock has been rejected by both
Houses.
Several stock law exemption bills fol
sections of the coast country are progress
ing favorably through both Houses.
The bill to r%eorganiZe the South Carroll:
ma University has passed both Houses.
an a friend to education, but l feel sure
that this scheme, under the name and
guise of a grand university, is one in
name only, and that the benefits to result
therefrom will not be commensurate with
the increased cost. | think the old South
Carolina College, with its annual appro-
priation of SIT 800, and the Charleston Cita'
del with its demand upon the taxpayers
for $40, 900 more, wds quite enough for the
cause of higher education, when our peo-
ple-and when 1 say our people, l mean
the boys at home on the farm-Whoa are
not able to avail themselves OF this high
er education, are denied any legislation
looking to an improvement OF the free
public school SYSTEM. which is the only
one that can bring about that universal
diffusion of knowledge which elevates, en-:
lightens and makes a people great and
good. This increased University appro,
priation, and it will reach $50, 900 this year,
was proposed by those who were opposed
to an agricultural college, under the plea
that agriculture and the mechanical arts
would be thoroughly taught in this Uni
versity, and the farmers in the Legislature
caught at the bait and it passed by a large
majority. 1 think I can see in it nothing
that will ever teach anybody to be a bet
ter farmer or how to raise a bushel more
of corn to the acre, or a pound OF cotton
but I think I can see that before this
thing is done with, it will take a good
deal of corn and cotton to pay the taxes on
this machine. The bill will pass and you
may as we'll realize now, as you will nave
to do, that after this machine is started, ii
will take a good deal to feed it, and the
history of the State is that the cost of these
educational luXuries grows as their age
increases. / want to repeat it, as L &C
not wish to be understood that [ do no
want the people educated, but L want II
where it is needed, and that is in every
~neighborhood, in every log-school house
from the mountains to the seaboard
Whenever we are able to have an etticien1
free school system, so that every boy ano
girl can get an elementary education al
home, then / may vote to tax the people
to support a grand university here, to ed
ucate those who are in much better cir
~,~.okoooo ~ 1ooef $hor tho rroof rooInri
ty of those who are taxed for their bene
fit. The principle ii is wrong. Its practical
operation is unjust, and its benefits 90 no
reach the people who support it.
The bill to create a new county out o.
portions of Williamsburg, Marion ano
Darlington, to be called Florence, passed
the House, but was rejected by the Senate
The bill to refund the $500, 900 deficiency
bond debt in A. per cent. bonds has passed
the House..
The bill to turn over the Columbia Cana
to the CITY of Columbia upon condition!
that the city would finish it, and furnish
500 horse power of water power to the
State for the use of the Penitentiary, has
passed the Senate.
The following Acts of local interest were
ratified Saturday night and are now laws
Act to authorize and require the Town
Council of Rock Hill to issue bonds fol
fire department. Joint resolution to au'
thorize the County commissioners of York
county to borrow money! to defray the
current expenses, and to phy school teach
ers' certificates, and to pay past indebted
ness of the county; the rate of interest on
such sums borrowed not to exceed s pei
cent. Act to regulate traffic in seed cotton
in York, Chester, Union and othercountles
An Act to provide for the establishment
of a special school district in Rock Hill
and to authorize the levy of a special tax
Council of Rock Hill to issue bonds for the
purchase of lands and buildings and Other
improvements for educational purposes
Act to renew the charter of Wright's ferry
The bill to amend and renew the charter
of the town of Fort Mill was ordered tc
a third reading to-day. -.
The bill togive a pension of So per month
to needy Confederate cripples has passed
both Houses. An appropriation of $50, OO(
is made to pay these pensions.
The general appropriation bill has moi
yet reached the Senate, but is in the House
More of this hereafter.
The bill to submit the question of license
or no licen$e to the counties of Greenville
and AbSevflle has passed to h ethird read:
ing in the Senate, having already passed
the HousA Oconee was in the bill, but
was stricken out in the Senate.
Col. A. P. Butler was reelected Com
missioner of Agriculture. He received
90 votes to IS for NJ. L. Donaldson, O.
Greenville.
MI. A. A. Sarratt, of Union, and Mr.
II. O. Sanders were elected directors of the
Pe%nitentiary to succeed Scott and Allen.
J. G. BLACK.